Chapter 8

"Let's get back to the topic. Actually, I, too, was once a hero who became a demon king. It feels a bit embarrassing to call myself a hero, but to explain the history, it's better to be straightforward. I'll just tell it as it is."

Inside Merea, there was naturally a curiosity about Flunder's past, but more than that, there was a feeling that she didn't want to make Flunder continue this painful story.

However, Flunder's tone was resolute, and she understood that he probably wouldn't stop until the end.

"Flunder as a demon king... Just the title doesn't seem to fit you at all."

This androgynous, handsome man as a demon king.

The image is a tricky thing; even now, when I think of a demon king, I still imagine a more rugged figure.

"I was recognized as a demon king after slaying a certain demon king, and then I was killed. That was my regret. I wanted to understand why such a thing happened, and to be honest... I also had a desire for revenge."

Flunder spoke as if he had decided to finally let out everything he had been holding back.

"Flunder, did you remember your regret?"

"Yes. I had forgotten it until recently. But I want you to understand that I no longer have any resentment about it. Maybe I've come full circle? Ha, now I feel like I understand everyone's feelings."

The fading of regret.

Was this a good thing for him, or—

"I don't regret the fading of my regret. I truly believe it was for the best. I didn't have to taint the pride I upheld in life with my own hands. If my regret hadn't faded and my old enemy had come to the Lindholm Spirit Mountain, I would have taken action."

Merea thought he didn't look like that kind of person, but on the other hand, she had seen spirits dragged by their regrets on the slopes of the Lindholm Spirit Mountain, so she couldn't completely deny it.

The heroes were all full of reason, and they remained that way until the moment they ascended to the 'Sea of Souls.'

—Would I have gone mad if I hadn't been the vessel of regret?

He was aware of his slight self-importance.

However, borrowing Flunder's words, the initial history of being born as the vessel of the heroes' regrets should be told plainly.

"But—"

Suddenly, Merea's thoughts were interrupted by Flunder's contradictory words.

Flunder's red eyes pierced through Merea's red eyes.

Two pairs of beautiful red lights swayed gently in each other's eyes.

"A new regret has sprouted instead."

"What kind of regret?"

"—Worrying that you might be killed in this world. That's what keeps me here now."

"..."

Holding back.

Restraining.

Flunder, who was probably already being called by the 'Sea of Souls,' said this.

Merea sensed it.

—I'm holding back Flunder's liberation.

She wanted to reassure him somehow, but couldn't think of a way.

"According to what I heard from the Sky Dragon Curtista, in recent years, those labeled as demon kings by that loose standard are showing signs of decline."

As Merea was pondering, Flunder spoke again.

"Most of them are probably being hunted."

"…If they give up their power as demon kings, wouldn't the state stop pursuing them?"

"That's debatable. They see potential even in the blood of demon kings. Moreover, there's a significant problem with the order of things. The state first seeks the power of demon kings and then chases them with all their might, so the demon kings can't easily let their guard down. 'Will they really give up on me if I give up my power?' Such suspicion and fear make it difficult for them to give up their power."

"…Indeed. Being pursued while giving up power… It's scary."

She probably wouldn't be proactive either.

There's no telling what a state obsessed with collecting power would do.

Even if you give up your weapons and power, they might demand to dissect your body or something.

If the power is inherited genetically from birth, there's nothing you can do about it.

"So, those demon kings are probably confused and desperately trying to escape, right?"

"Most of them—seem to be."

Flunder shrugged, and Merea furrowed her brow.

"Demon kings are running… huh. It's hard to tell who the demon kings are anymore."

"You're right. But you also have the potential to be pursued like them."

"…That's true."

The future Flunder feared was that.

He could predict that the 'Future Stone' had 'demon king' written on it because he knew, based on the accumulation of information, that he would end up in the same situation as them.

"So, if, if that happens—"

In the next moment, Flunder, unusually breaking his calm demeanor, placed his hands on Merea's shoulders with a forceful momentum.

He gripped her shoulders tightly, pulling her closer, and turned her body to face him.

Then, Flunder said:

"—You should cooperate with those demon kings."

Just the words alone would shock the heroes of old.

The term 'demon king' was once a symbol of evil.

"If they seek help, lend them a hand. They might not reciprocate. They might even reject you. But someday, when you're in trouble, they might be the ones to lend you a hand."

Merea looked straight into Flunder's eyes, accepting his words.

Then, slowly but firmly, she nodded and said:

"—Yes. If they are not truly embodiments of evil but are bound by the curse of the word 'demon king' and are seeking help—"

For such demon kings,

"I would gladly lend a hand."

Merea thought this sincerely.

"—Yes."

Flunder wore that complex smile again, but it seemed to have a hint of happiness in it.

Looking up at the sky, Flunder shielded his eyes from the sun and continued:

"From here on, I'm talking to myself. I'm going to speak out loud to remember and resolve my regret. If you don't want to hear, you can leave the room."

Flunder had his usual smile.

"Okay."

Merea had no intention of leaving but responded.

There was a few seconds of silence, and then Flunder began to speak softly.

Merea listened quietly.

"I was killed by my former comrades. They were from my homeland. After defeating the demon king, they sought more of my power. The power of the 'Arcane God.' My specialized magical power was very useful in times of war."

The 'Arcane God's Magic Eye.'

The power to instantly decipher magical formulas.

Combined with a solid understanding and the ability to generate formulas, one could become an excellent mage in no time.

"Magical formulas are always a threat. While a Tyrant can exert god-like power with their body alone, magical formulas can unleash powerful attacks more easily. The principle of this world, where phenomena can be expressed in formulas, has contributed significantly to the escalation of conflicts."

There is indeed an aspect of magical formulas that allows for the easy firing of a cannon without actually making one.

"Tactically and strategically, mages are powerful and easy to use. I, with my special eye for mages, was a 'tool' they desperately wanted. —But"

Flunder took a deep breath and continued.

"I refused to be their tool. They asked me to destroy a completely innocent nation, but I thought that was wrong. I honed my power to save my homeland, to defeat the demon king who was nearby. Not to invade a completely innocent country."

Flunder's eyes were serious.

And at that moment, Merea finally realized that the hero who was first targeted by 'a certain state' was Flunder himself.

At the same time, she understood that Flunder had refused his homeland's unreasonable orders for the sake of his principles,

—Flunder was truly a hero.

She was convinced of this.

Flunder's way of life might have been awkward in an era about to enter a time of war.

As a living being, Flunder should have followed his homeland's orders and become the hero the state wanted.

But,

—Flunder = Crow chose a ridiculously straightforward path.

It was the path of a 'hero' that Flunder = Crow believed in.

"Even as I refused, I was unknowingly poisoned."

Flunder smiled self-deprecatingly.

"It was a nasty poison that took effect gradually. They might have used a slow-acting poison to buy time to negotiate with me in exchange for an antidote. In any case, by the time I realized it, the poison had spread quite a bit. I still believed they were my comrades, so I didn't notice the poison until it was too late. —No, I noticed it but couldn't believe it. I was very young and naive to still believe they would change their minds even at that point."

Even so,

"Even on the brink of such a tragic end, I didn't regret refusing that order."

—You are amazing.

Merea felt pure pride in being raised by Flunder.

"There is a regret that I couldn't truly persuade them and a regret that I didn't notice the poison, but I have no regrets about the life I lived. —As the poison spread and my remaining time grew short, I decided to act quickly on what I had to do last. If my eyes were taken by them, they would become a new source of conflict. Besides, I found it galling. So, I climbed the Lindholm Spirit Mountain, which few people visit, still poisoned, and placed my eyes at the summit. I wasn't very physically strong, so I still admire my determination at that time. —After achieving that, I finally died."

A tragic death.

Merea felt a sharp pain in her chest.

"Then, as a spirit, I continued to protect my eyes with the other heroes. Thanks to that, my eyes eventually found a home in Merea's body. —I had no children. To me, Merea is like a son. I am happy that Merea inherited my eyes."

Flunder's happy profile was etched in Merea's mind.

"Universal heroes no longer exist. —Or perhaps they never did. At least, the heroes of this era are much more diverse and specialized than in the past. A hero to one country is a demon king to another. This is an era where such things often happen."

What is a hero?

A simple question that once arose about demon kings surfaced in Merea's mind.

"But, I hope that the one who inherited my eyes can become a hero for someone. It doesn't have to be a great hero. Even a small hero who follows their principles and protects someone—"

—Can I really repay you by doing that?

"—Merea, you don't need to repay us anymore. You have already repaid us more than enough."

Flunder suddenly stopped his monologue and said this, looking at Merea.

It was as if he had seen through Merea's heart. Merea was initially surprised but eventually felt a strange sense of acceptance.

Perhaps it was related to the fact that Flunder's life as a hero was coming to an end.

"Breaking our regrets was the greatest gift to us. You might not realize it, but the spirits wandering here were freed from their curses because of you. If your soul hadn't shown us its growth as it traveled the world, we would have wandered here for hundreds more years, dragging our worn-out regrets and pain."

"…"

Merea couldn't form words.

"So, Merea, from now on, find what you want to do. I've given you the skills to fight, to live, and to protect. The spirit and courage of what we believed in as heroes, I've taught you. How you use them is up to you."

"I—"

Merea had relied on the wishes of the heroes.

It was understandable.

Her values were formed by the old stories told by the heroes and the occasional fragmented news from the Sky Dragon after her reincarnation.

She had inherited memories and personalities, but that was all.

Merea lacked a sense of impulse towards the world since her birth in this world.

Even the desolate landscape of the Lindholm Spirit Mountain didn't give her a dream of the world, despite her being moved by the mere fact of being alive.

"That's your task from now on. There's no need to rush. You have plenty of time. First, you need to survive. That's your mission. Don't be crushed by this impossible world."

Flunder said this with a faint smile.

With that, Merea and Flunder ended their conversation.

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